Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy Shooting A Sequel To Before Sunrise/Sunset

Good things are supposed to come in threes. Is that why Hollywood obsesses over the trilogy, trying to bring every franchise to that not-so-round number of three before they tie everything up with a precise bow? Even films that don’t set themselves up for natural sequels are finding their way to Part Three. Like Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.

Yes, the Richard Linklater talkers that paired Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy for lengthy conversations about life and love apparently will spawn one more go-round of insightful verbal sparring … at least, according to Hawke. While speaking with IndieWire on behalf of his The Woman in the Fifth, Hawke revealed that he’ll reunite with Linklater and Delpy for a third effort, and soon.

We’re also doing a follow-up to Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, so that will be fun. We’re going to shoot that this summer,” Hawke reveals. “I’ve gotten into trouble, so I’m sworn to secrecy [about where it will take place]. The biggest change between this one and the last one is the Internet. The first time we did it, we didn’t have any pressure; nobody gave a shit.

People give a shit now. Not that these films are box-office juggernauts. But critics fawn over the collaborations (and rightfully so), so the idea that they’ll attempt another is wildly appealing. It has been eight years since star-crossed lovers Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) last reunited in France. Maybe Linklater can hold the third chapter for 2014, giving the couple a 10-year reunion to see where life has taken them.

The Before films actually could – and should – extend beyond a third film. Much like Michael Apted’s Up documentaries, audiences simply could check back in with Hawke and Delpy at different stages of their lives to see how we measure up against their progress. The budgets are low, the value is high … so long as Hawke, Delpy and Linklater are game every 10 years or so, would you be interested in watching?